Good owners are bound to do anything and everything to protect their beloved pets. This means that when there’s a health emergency, they will rush to the vet clinic, without a care for how expensive it might be. And yet, not all emergencies are actual emergencies. But the visit might cost you a pretty penny.
Pet parents amused the internet with their best “I can’t believe I had to pay for this” vet stories, where they paid huge sums of money for something completely silly. Their stories are funny, relatable, and a bit painful, and you’ll find them below.
#21
My dog had a fainting episode and I took him to the emergency vet. They said it seemed to be a heart issue and prescribed hardcore heart meds. $800. A few days later he kept clearing his throat so I called and they said to bring him in asap as it could be heart failure. $700. They recommended he go to the cardiologist at Purdue. We get down there and spend another $600 on an appointment and testing only to find out…. He faints when he’s too excited (syncope) and his heart is actually healthy despite being 12 years old.
19points
#22
$2000 emergency vet bill for my Pomeranian because he licked a toad while we were fishing. I took my eyes off him for 15 seconds and the little devil started terrorizing a toad. Within 30 minutes he was lethargic, panting, pale/ tacky gums and scared shitless.
2 years later and he still runs the opposite direction when he sees a toad. He has the heart of a lion and would stand off against a bear if I let him, but he learned a lesson about toads.
2 years later and he still runs the opposite direction when he sees a toad. He has the heart of a lion and would stand off against a bear if I let him, but he learned a lesson about toads.
19points
#23
€600 in fees for scans to find out my cat was ‘a bit fat’ and ‘a funny shape’. Also €2000 for a hairball (it got lodged in the intestine) The vet gave it to me to keep.
19points
#24
My friend had similar- her cat got so stressed out after a move that she became constipated
1200$.
1200$.
18points
#25
I didn’t go to the vet, but my tortoise gave me a heart attack.
I was running late to class (it’s always when you’re running late) and told my tortoise I love him and to be good when I saw red stuff on his claw. I ran over and cleaned his foot. I was freaking out trying to figure out how I’d get to an exotic vet (I didn’t have a car, lived on campus). I started crying because I didn’t know what to do. After a bit, I saw a strawberry seed in the mess. The dude stepped in a strawberry. Thank goodness my professor is forgiving.
I was running late to class (it’s always when you’re running late) and told my tortoise I love him and to be good when I saw red stuff on his claw. I ran over and cleaned his foot. I was freaking out trying to figure out how I’d get to an exotic vet (I didn’t have a car, lived on campus). I started crying because I didn’t know what to do. After a bit, I saw a strawberry seed in the mess. The dude stepped in a strawberry. Thank goodness my professor is forgiving.
18points
#26
Just a few weeks ago my black lab tore his toe pad enough that it was vet worthy because it was just a loose flap. I wrapped his paw with a sock and a wrap and the next day before the vet appointment he had the sock off for 20 minutes and he ATE HIS TOE PAD. $186 for a cute little cast.
17points
#27
Several thousand dollars and a CT scan (with sedation) on my 9 month old Lab to find out his limping was from "growing pains". Officially panosteitis. He went from small and chunky to really tall and 75lbs in a short period of time. Basically multiple urgent care visits and imaging to find out he had the exact same thing I had as a kid but was being super dramatic about limping.
15points
#28
When my now adult kids were little, they brought home 2 guinea pigs from a friend. They have short life spans anyway and we're already at least a year old.
Six months on, one gets a large cyst on his face ( common ailment for them). We took it to the vet and he said he could surgically remove it, but even he didn't think it was worth it because more cysts are likely and the pet was already older
Cue 3 kids crying and freaking out when we suggest just letting him live out his life "as is".
$400 later we have a mended pet who goes on to live another 2 months. Lol.
Six months on, one gets a large cyst on his face ( common ailment for them). We took it to the vet and he said he could surgically remove it, but even he didn't think it was worth it because more cysts are likely and the pet was already older
Cue 3 kids crying and freaking out when we suggest just letting him live out his life "as is".
$400 later we have a mended pet who goes on to live another 2 months. Lol.
15points
#29
We call ours “The $500 Fart” 🤣
Our maltipoo mutt was trailing along behind my FIL as he cleaned the pool, and he scooped out a passed, bloated frog and tossed it on the lawn, realizing a second too late that she was behind him. She gobbled it up before he even had time to react. We took her in bc we had no idea what kind of frog it was and just wanted to play it safe. She was very bloated and uncomfortable. They observed her for a bit, did some bloodwork (IIRC, this was over 10 yrs ago), and ended up having a tech walk her until she could either poo or pass gas. She finally did, and it was the most expensive fart we’ve ever paid for.
Our maltipoo mutt was trailing along behind my FIL as he cleaned the pool, and he scooped out a passed, bloated frog and tossed it on the lawn, realizing a second too late that she was behind him. She gobbled it up before he even had time to react. We took her in bc we had no idea what kind of frog it was and just wanted to play it safe. She was very bloated and uncomfortable. They observed her for a bit, did some bloodwork (IIRC, this was over 10 yrs ago), and ended up having a tech walk her until she could either poo or pass gas. She finally did, and it was the most expensive fart we’ve ever paid for.
14points
#30
Cat wasn’t his usual self, was very sneezy and had a runny nose so took him to the emergency vet fearing a really bad URI. Turns out it was just very bad allergies and he’s just dramatic.
$500.
$500.
14points
#31
Roughly 4k and 36 hours at the er vets on Memorial Day for cat constipation. Ended up just needing fluids and a laxative.
13points
#32
My dog was lethargic and whimpering when I touched her belly. Thought it was bloat. We rushed to the vet, and once we got there, she threw up a whole chicken head and 2 claws. She felt immensely better. RIP Harriet.
13points
#33
My Australian shepherd was limping. It was right before Milton was supposed to hit so I took her in worried they wouldn’t be able to see her after because of damage. They had to take x-rays which always about 550. Plus medication another 100. Told to keep her resting which if you know Australian shepherd is not something they are capable of. Woke up the next morning and she must have forgotten she was hurt. Because she wasn’t limping anymore. Had I waited one day I could have saved 700.00.
12points
